Playing a single 18-hole round of golf or completing 6 km of either Nordic walking or regular walking can significantly improve immediate cognitive function in older adults, according to a recent study published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine.
An international research team, comprising members from the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Edinburgh, and ETH Zürich, sought to uncover the immediate effects of three specific cognitively demanding aerobic activities on cognition and associated biological responses in older, healthy participants.
The study involved 25 healthy older golfers, aged 65 and above, who participated in three different acute bouts of aerobic exercise: an 18-hole golf round, a 6 km Nordic walking session, and a 6 km regular walking session. Each exercise was conducted in a real-life environment, with participants maintaining their typical pace, corresponding to brisk walking.
